Tag: LimbPower

LimbPower Beyond Boundaries Workshop – an inspiring workshop on the 3rd December to celebrate European Limb Loss Day and International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

There is a wide choice of live taster sessions to choose from with something to suit everyone so be sure to sign up and secure your place.

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Beyond Boundaries Workshop – Be Your Best Self

LimbPower is SO excited to invite you to our live events for the Beyond Boundaries Workshop on the 3rd of December to celebrate European Limb Loss Day and International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Join us during this free digital workshop designed by industry professionals to provide a day of exciting live taster sessions tailored to amputees and people with limb differences.

These sessions are FREE but you must sign up using by using this link beyondboundariesworkshop.eventbrite.co.uk

Live classes and sessions are: 

9-9:40 am Paracise – A low impact exercise is ideal for those who find regular fitness classes too demanding, or who haven’t exercised for a long time, or who are coming back from injury. It is accessible to those with a wide range of health conditions such as amputation, arthritis, fibromyalgia, bad backs etc.

9-9:50 am Breaking Boundaries – Delivering strategies on how to perform under pressure and different ways to react to difficult situations.

10:40 – 11:20 am reVAMP – At home/work live 40-min exercise circuit for lower-limb amputees designed for LimbPower by PT Jack Eyers

11.30-12.10 pm “Getting Going and Keeping Going”– Strategies to Help Move More Post-Discharge

12.20-1.00 pm Tai Chi – At home/work Tai Chi class by Phil for amputees and people with limb differences helps with balance and falls

1.10-1.50 pm Making the most of your limb centre visit – A talk on communicating with your limb centre to get the best prosthetic outcomes.

2 – 14:40 pm reVAMP – At home/work live 40-min exercise circuit for upper-limb amputees presented by PT Liv Chapman.

2.50 -3.30 pm A rehabilitation Journey case study presented by Steve Hills Irwin Mitchell

3.40-4.10pm Meditation & Yoga – A live 40-min Yoga and Meditation session designed for amputees and people with limb differences by Angela Schroeder.

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Links: (Will open in new tabs)

• Contact Eventbrite to sign in: beyondboundariesworkshop.eventbrite.co.uk
• Visit the LimbPower Website

News Release

24th March 2020

Issued by LimbPower

For immediate release

 

LimbPower goes Virtual

 

Due to the ongoing public health issue caused by the Corona Virus (COVID-19) LimbPower have been required to make some incredibly difficult decisions including postponing all of our participation programmes and fundraising events as of March 2020 for the foreseeable future.

 

“Our priority at this time is the health and wellbeing of our staff, volunteers and community members. It is heart breaking that we have postponed these vital services which support the physical, mental and social health of our community members. As a small organisation with passionate and dedicated staff we have been able to mobilise quickly and move some of our vital services online to enable us to continue to support the community we serve. We just need everyone to pull together and inform their patients, members, friends and family about the new services we are offering and where to find them.”

 

Our community still need us, without our weekly hospital visits, Nordic Walking programme and participation events, hundreds of disabled people across England and Wales will feel more isolated than ever. Hundreds of disabled adults and children have lost the opportunity they have to be active and interact with other people ‘like me’. We are working hard to adapt and have put the following in place to continue to support our community:

 

LimbPower: Stay In Stay Active

LimbPower have created a private Facebook group for all our LimbPower community members and anyone else who wants to join, to support the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of amputees and individuals with limb difference. We are postingonline videos, live videos, Q and A sessions and useful and relevant resources and social media challenges to keep our community members active, reduce feelings of isolation and support their physical, social and psychological health.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/932945630436779/

 

LimbPower Juniors: Stay In Stay Active

LimbPower have created a private Facebook group for all our LimbPower Junior families to support everyone’s health and wellbeing. We will be posting online videos, live videos and Q and A sessions, useful and relevant resources, social media challenges to keep our community members active, reduce feelings of isolation and support their physical, social and psychological health.  #StayInStayActive. #StayInWorkOut #StaySafe

https://www.facebook.com/groups/208312000385132/

YouTube, Twitter and Instagram
We will be uploading all of the video content to YouTube to share with our community members and the wider community and sharing the links on Twitter and Instagram. We are happy for any other charity to use our resources to support their beneficiaries, we simply ask that you mention LimbPower as the source.

We will also be emailing and calling families to check on their well-being. We don’t want anyone to feel alone at any time and right now more than ever, we need to pull together! StayInStayActive. #StayInWorkOut #StaySafe

 

‘We are also asking our supporters and friends to become friends of the charity or make a donation to fund our life-changing work. We expect to lose up to 50% of income over the next three months and we need your help to reduce our losses. As an organisation we remain committed to empowering amputees and individuals with limb difference through physical activity, sport and the arts and we thank you for your ongoing support”.

https://www.justgiving.com/limbpower

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LimbPower – LimbPower is the National Disability Sport Organisation that supports amputees and people with limb impairments to reach their sporting potential.

The Charity’s mission is to engage amputees and people with limb impairments in regular and sustained participation in recreational and competitive sport and the arts, to improve their quality of life and aid physical, social and psychological rehabilitation. LimbPower aim to put each amputee and limb impaired person in touch with the right sport and leisure activity for their needs and ability. www.limbpower.com

An exciting announcement from the very pro-active charity, LimbPower, about their latest resource, Player Pathway.

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PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                        

For immediate release        

 LimbPower create new Player Pathway resource to increase engagement in activity

Sport is for everyone, whatever your age or physical ability.  Access can be more challenging for persons with a limb impairment and there can be a myriad of questions, challenges and barriers to overcome, whether you’re just starting to get active or progressing from beginner to a higher level.

Questions such as, where do I start?  How do I access opportunity to try a particular sport? How do I return to a sport I used to play?  How do I achieve my goals and ambitions? 

The new Player Pathway resource for athletes and non-athletes with a limb impairment produced by LimbPower (with support from Sport England’s Inclusive Sport Fund and the Activity Alliance), answers some of these questions and will support you in knowing where and how you can access physical activity and sport. 

“One of the major barriers to participation in physical activity and sport is access to information. This new Player Pathway resource is an excellent addition to LimbPower’s suite of information sheets on Accessing Sport and Physical Activity. Each resource we create is designed to fill a knowledge gap to enable individuals with limb impairments to access physical activity and sport”, said Kiera Roche, LimbPower CEO.

The resource clearly shows the different opportunities from grass roots to elite level and highlights the organisations who can support you on your journey and how you can access this support. The resource also highlights where and how LimbPower can support you at the different levels of participation.

 “The Player Pathway is a fantastic new resource,” says LimbPower Patron Richard Whitehead.  “Not only does it support individuals who want to take part in social physical activity, it also provides guidance for those who want to aim higher and compete at events or games meetings.  In addition, importantly the factsheet enables coaches to understand where to sign post for the next opportunities available.” he adds.

This new resource sits alongside LimbPower’s suite of Accessing Sport and Physical Activity Fact Sheetscreated to engage individuals with limb impairments in physical activity and sport. The new resource factsheet is available free to download from the LimbPower website www.limbpower.com.  For further information please contact LimbPower’s Sports Development Officer Andy Brittles at .

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Notes:

LimbPower is a national charity which supports both amputees and individuals born with limb impairments to engage in physical activity, sport and the arts to improve quality of life and to aid lifelong rehabilitation.

LimbPower is a National Disability Sports Organisation, sitting alongside WheelPower, Cerebral Palsy Sport (CP Sport), Dwarf Sport, British Blind Sport (BBS), UK Deaf Sport, Mencap Sport and Special Olympics Great Britain (SOBG).  Through this association, and our work with the Activity Alliance and Sport England, LimbPower help amputees and people with limb impairment reach their sporting potential.

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Links:

• Player Pathway (the above flyers in pdf format for downloading and printing)
• LimbPower website: www.limbpower.com

On Wednesday 2nd October a team of 21 people set off on the challenge of a lifetime to climb Kilimanjaro the World’s largest free-standing Mountain. This inspiring team included eight amputees (four men and four women), all with varied limb differences of different levels ranging from below the knee – Tracy Kitto, to a full hip disarticulation – Damian Harper, and Simon Grater, who is an amputee and Type 1 Diabetic and Mick Kirby, an upper limb stroke survivor.

The uniqueness of this Kilimanjaro Challenge was designed to give each of the amputees involved the optimal chance of summiting the Mountain. The strong team of 21 people included two Doctors, two Prosthetists, eight amputees and friends and partners. And an additional support crew of 75 local people who were their guides, porters and kitchen staff. The team undertook an extended trek over eight days allowing for the differing needs of this inspirational 8 person Ampu-Team.

Four of the eight amputees summited Kilimanjaro; Anne Garland (who at 62, is the oldest female AK amputee to summit) and Kiera Roche who both reached Gilman’s Point. Chris Linnitt and Rebecca Legon continued on for another 3-4 hours and reached the 3^rd Uruhu Summit. Rebecca was the first amputee to complete the challenge in a speedy time of under 12 hours, and Chris battled through immense discomfort as his prosthetic leg had broken. All of the amputees challenged themselves beyond their comfort zones and those that didn’t summit only failed to do so due to illness and or prosthetic malfunction. This challenge was always a high-risk expedition with very little knowledge about how the prosthetics would perform at altitude and under duress, the team were pretty much climbing blind.

This was an incredibly tough challenge and nothing you read or watch can prepare you for the long days, altitude and tiredness of sleeping in a tent in the wilderness for eight days. The prosthetic support and pre-event preparation were incredible and the above knee amputees could not have succeeded without the hard work and preparation carried out by Chris Parsons and Tim Howarth, including the design of a battery-operated portable charger.

The team were met at the finish line by Tanzanian government officials who had heard about this fantastic group of individuals all with different disabilities and had organised a welcome party, which was documented and shown on local TV stations.

Kiera Roche, LimbPower’s CEO said, ‘this was the most challenging thing I have undertaken, it required both physical and mental toughness to get through each day and to reach the summit on summit night, a huge feat for a team of amputees’. She added, ‘this challenge was not just about pushing our personal limits, but also about leading the way to show other people with limb loss and limb difference that anything is possible with the right support and equipment’.

The team have raised an incredible £30,000 for two limb loss charities, LimbPower and the Amputation Foundation. Both organisations work to improve the lives of people living with limb loss and limb difference.

Damian Harper, Amputation Foundation Trustee said “I’m so incredibly proud of us all. I didn’t reach the top, but I reached my Kilimanjaro. My personal goal was to be the first Hip Disarticulation amputee to summit with a prosthetic leg, unfortunately my socket failed and I had to stop on safety grounds. My main aim for our group was to show other amputees that life can continue post amputation, that it can be a new beginning.  We are all everyday amputees using standard prosthetics, not athletes, just Superheroes. It was an honour to be part of this team’.

• LimbPower – is a national charity who supports both amputees and individuals born with limb impairments to engage in physical activity, sport and the arts to improve quality of life and to aid lifelong rehabilitation.

LimbPower is a National Disability Sports Organisation, sitting alongside WheelPower, Cerebral Palsy Sport (CP Sport), Dwarf Sport, British Blind Sport (BBS), UK Deaf Sport, Mencap Sport and Special Olympics Great Britain (SOBG).  Through this association, and our work with the Activity Alliance and Sport England, LimbPower help amputees and people with limb impairment reach their sporting potential.

www.limbpower.com

• Amputation Foundation (AF) – is the first point of call for amputees, families and friends of amputees, and hospital professionals to obtain immediate and impartial support from other amputees and support organisations. AF is linked with all support networks and groups around the UK to ensure each and every amputee has first-hand advice, information, and support that will be beneficial to living a life without limb(s).

http://amputationfoundation.org

The Kilimanjaro Team – Alan Fox, Anne Garland, Chris Linnitt, Chris Parsons, Damian Harper, Nichola Folser, David Fosler, Jackie Webber, Jonnie Clapp, Kevin Rees, Kiera Roche, Mick Kirby, Dr Nicki Russell, Paul Rogers, Rebecca Legon, Dr Sarah Drake, Shelly Whyte, Simon Grater, Sue Ferguson, Tracy Kitto, Tim Howarth.

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Fantastic news! Heartfelt congratulations and huge respect to you all for such an amazing achievement. 

 

LimbPower are running the annual LimbPower Junior Games in two weeks time at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. This event is a unique opportunity created to empower young people with a physical disability to get active and try a range of sports in a safe and friendly environment among their peers and run by sports coaches and instructors trained in work with children with physical impairments.

You can book your place using the form at the bottom of this post.

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LimbPower are empowering young physically disabled children to get active

National disability charity, LimbPower are looking forward to another fun packed LimbPower Junior Games which forms part of our children’s programme. On Saturday 8th June LimbPower will deliver the Junior Games at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Buckinghamshire.

For many years, the LimbPower Junior Games has provided children and young people with an acquired limb impairment or amputation with a great opportunity try out new sports and activities in a fun, friendly and supportive environment among their peers.

Debbie, mother of Junior Games participant said:

“The Junior Games is such a confidence booster for Anna. She’s made friends and learned sports she would ever have tried without it. It’s even inspired her to join an athletics club.”

The Games are open to children and young people aged five to eighteen with a physical impairment. Sports and activities on offer this year will include climbing, wheelchair basketball, track and field athletics, cycling, sitting volleyball, tennis, archery and cage cricket, football and swimming.

Chief Executive of LimbPower, Kiera Rochesaid: “Children just want to feel included, to be like their friends, to take part in activity and be children not patients. These children spend a lot of time at hospitals for limb fitting or orthotic appointments and yet rarely see any other children ‘like me’. These events enable children to enjoy physical activity among other children with similar impairments, where they can try new things and learn new skills without being worried about making mistakes or being different”.

For information about the LimbPower Junior Games 2019 please visit www.limbpower.com or contact Carly Bauert, LimbPower ‘s Childrens and Family  Officer. Email call 01452 770441.

LimbPower’s vision is to change lives through the power of sport, physical activity and the arts. The Junior Games support their ongoing work to increase the number suitable and available activity opportunities for people with limb impairments in the UK.

For more information about LimbPower, visit www.limbpower.com. 

LimbPower

LimbPower is the National Disability Sport Organisation that supports amputees and people with limb impairments to reach their sporting potential.

The Charity’s mission is to engage amputees and people with limb impairments in regular and sustained participation in recreational and competitive sport and the arts, to improve their quality of life and aid physical, social and psychological rehabilitation. LimbPower aim to put each amputee and limb impaired person in touch with the right sport and leisure activity for their needs and ability.

The LimbPower Junior Games are open to children and young people aged five to eighteen with a physical impairment. This event is a unique opportunity created to empower young people with a physical disability to get active and try out new sports and activities in a fun, friendly and supportive environment among their peers. Sports and activities on offer this year will include climbing, wheelchair basketball, track and field athletics, cycling, sitting volleyball, tennis, archery and cage cricket, football, swimming and a climbing wall. Families can now register online at:

For information about the LimbPower Junior Games 2019 please visit http://limbpower.com/index.php/events/limbpower-junior-games-2019 or contact Carly Bauert, LimbPower’s Children’s and Family Officer. Email or call 01452 770441.

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Links:

• LimbPower Junior Games 2019 Booking Form

#ScottMoorhouseCyclesBritain

One Man, One Leg, One Bike

This weekend, Saturday 14^th July, Paralympian Scott Moorhouse who represented Great Britain at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London will embark on a gruelling challenge to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats in just one week.

Scott has already raised a staggering £4,435.99 for his chosen chairty LimbPower, A National Disability Sports Organisation working to engage individuals with limb loss and or limb difference in physical activity and sport.

Sport has played a powerful role in helping Moorhouse to overcome his disability. It has given him a goal and a focus, and equally the confidence that having one leg will not hold him back!

It is with this thought in mind that he has chosen to raise money for LimbPower who offer relief to the physically disabled by aiding rehabilitation and improving the quality of life through the medium of recreational and competitive sports and arts.

Moorhouse said: “I haven’t really cycled much since doing my paper round many years ago, so this really is a steep ask. For those that know me also are aware I will be doing this as an amputee with one leg – just to add another dimension!”.

You can follow Scott’s  journey on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and by making a donation to his chosen charity here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/scott-moorhouse

For daily updates on Scott’s progression, follow him on:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/181813415745914/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scott.moorhouse/

Twitter https://twitter.com/MoorhouseScott
Hashtags #ScottMoorhouseCyclesBritain  #OneManOneBikeOneLeg

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We’re sure that you’ll join us all at DBF in wishing Scott the very best of luck and success with this gruelling challenge in support of such a great charity.

Join LimbPower and friends for the Manic MaraFun, Family Fun Day, Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Fundamental Skills Workshop on Saturday 21^st July at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. From 9.00am -4.00pm. Any donations towards the running cost of this event would also be very much appreciated.

LimbPower’s Next Event for Families 

The next children’s event is the Teddy Bears’ Picnic, Fundamental Skills Workshop and Manic Marathon Fun day at Stoke Mandeville on the 21^st July. Please do book in advance as we have had to cancel events in the past due to everyone leaving their registrations to the last minute.

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Teddy Bears’ Picnic and Mini Sports Day

Bring your teddy along for a picnic on our Family Fun Day at Stoke Mandeville Stadium on Saturday 21^st July. We are welcoming all our little people and their teddies for a mini sports day and to join in the Fundamental Skills Workshop if they wish. There will also be face painting and a climbing wall. This picnic is for families of young children with limb loss or limb difference and adult amputees with young children.

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Fundamental Skills Workshop

Take part and learn and develop skills to help your child take part in school PE, increase their confidence and self-esteem, have fun and meet other children with a similar disability. Your child will be taught how to: Throw, Hop, Catch, Kick, Run, Jump and Skip. All core skills to support your child to engage in physical activity and sport at school and in the community. Each child will receive a Fundamental Skills badge and certificate if they can achieve the appropriate level. All exercises are adapted for amputees and children with limb difference.

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Manic MaraFun

This is where the adults join in either for fun or to help raise the money so that we can run this and other events. Our team fundraising target is £10,000. This is a social and fundraising event for families. Adults and children can join LimbPower for a mile or more of this fun filled MaraFun and raise much needed funds. Fancy dress is optional. You don’t have to take part in the MaraFun to enjoy this fabulous family day out. Music and children’s activities, including a climbing wall and Fundamental Skills Workshop.

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Useful Links:

• Email Contact: Please contact  or   for more details or to register your interest. If you can’t attend this event keep checking the LimbPower website for other events and activities.
• Manic MaraFun Registration Form: (Click to download the link): /wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MM-Registration-Form-2018.docx
• Fundamental Skills Entry Form: (Click to download the link): /wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FS-Entry-Form-SM.docx 

Bike Egypt

by Kiera Roche

Night Plane to Cairo
We arrived in Cairo in the early hours of Monday evening after a two hour flight delay. Mike Paterson, a double below knee amputee and myself had the usual airport shenanigans, setting off the metal detectors on the way through customs.

We stayed at a hotel in Cairo, which reminded me of a holiday chalet, of course our rooms were at the furthest end of the complex, so I struggled with my suitcase, spare leg and travel bag until I spotted a porter who took pity on me, thinking I was a weary pack-horse.When we arrived at the room I put my hand in my pocket to give him a tip and pulled out what looked like a reasonably sized note (100 Egyptian pounds) approximately £10, what I didn’t realize was this is about half a months salary C-leg, Otto Bock, and it took us 10 minutes to convince the porter to leave the room with the money in hand.

It is always a difficult judgment to know where to draw the line between being kind and flaunting the fact that we in the west are richer and have access to a better quality of life. This is something that I feel we often get wrong . Once I’d unpacked and plugged the C-leg (a computerized leg made by Otto Bock) in to the wall socket I was ready for bed, Mike and Cathy popped outside for a night cap on the veranda, so they wouldn’t disturb my sleep. They need not have worried; as I lay my head on the pillow, a slow distant chant arose, growing louder and louder: it seemed to last for an eternity.Welcome to the five 0’clock surround sound prayer session. It was quite a moving experience and if I hadn’t been so tired I might have enjoyed the experience. As the prayers subsided and I lay my head on the pillow a rooster belted out the start of his early morning wake up call. Suddenly roast chicken seemed like a nice idea and I was ready to catch the bird myself!

The next morning was a fantastic opportunity to see the Pyramids, something I have wanted to do for as long as can remember, but I had to drag myself out of bed at what seemed like the crack of dawn. Cathy and I kept up our tradition of being the lastof the group to arrive for breakfast. However hard I try to be quick, it just takes me longer to get ready because I have to wash the socket sleeve of the artificial leg with antiseptic wipes, put on the sleeve and a stump sock and finally don my artificial leg, which isn’t always easy. It doesn’t help that I wasn’t Speedy Gonzalez to start with.

After breakfast we gathered our belongings and headed to the coach for what we thought was a long coach trip to the Pyramids, so I nearly fell off my leg when I walked out of the lobby into the bright sunlight to see the Pyramids staring back at me. It was the most bizarre site, standing in the middle of a street in a built-up city looking at the most talked about historical construction in the world. It somehow reduced their magnificence.

As you approach them they seem smaller than expected, which is an illusion because they are actually further away than you think. It is only when you are upon them they you realize their enormity and are awestruck by their magnitude. Chris, one of the bikers, an architect was on hand to explain that we still haven’t unveiled how the Egyptians built the pyramids. He explained about their perfect symmetry and the magnetic force which was created internally, enabling the mummified and other organic objects to remain intact until the tombs were opened.

Walk like an Egyptian
We were invited to take a tour of the Pyramids, but were warned that the entrance passages were small, narrow and dark and should be avoided if you are claustrophobic. I did think twice about this and decided that I would never have an opportunity again to go inside the oldest surviving man made structure, so I seized the moment, but not for long.

The entrance to the Pyramid is a small square tunnel descending into the ground at approximately a 20 degree decline. There were no steps, just a wooden slope with strips of wood attached to stop you slipping. I managed to get down the first section where there was a railing to grip onto, but I couldn’t descend the second steeper section, so I had to turn back disappointed. Even with a C-Leg it was nigh on impossible, because you needed to descend in a crouched position. And it is impossible for me crouch and move at the same time, although quite amusing to watch me try. Mike the double below knee amputee made it though. Everyone was kind and said that I hadn’t missed anything. I didn’t mind because I had a go at it and did my best, besides it gave me an opportunity to be trigger happy with my camera.I only took 400 photos!

It was at the Pyramids that I discovered a new , effective sales technique I had not used myself. The street seller gives you a free gift, of a small blue beetle for good luck. After you say thank you and start walking away the street seller will enquire “Do you have something for me”? Before you know it you are leaden down with gifts for which they require a sum of money. Next we visited the Sphinx with the head of a king and the body of a lion. I did wonder how the Ancient Egyptians knew what a lion was, but apparently the Pharos of Egypt concurred much of Africa during their reign. Sphinx was an incredible site , all the more so because it was created over 4,000 year’s ago.

On the river Nile
After lunch we flew from Cairo to Luxor where we joined the Nile Queen, our home for the week. Staying on a boat on the river Nile was a lovely touch and added a hint of romanticism to the trip.

On the Queen we were introduced to the ground crew led by Theo Peters, an ex-pro cyclist Pro Holland, who now lives in Israel.Those of us who had brought our own bikes had the wonderful task of putting them back together, while the other bikerswere fitted with their bikes. This all took place on the deck of the Queen and was a great bonding experience and gallantly many of the chaps offered their services as temporary bike mechanics and together we put the Pink Lady back together.

During dinner we were given a run down of the next days itinerary and informed that we needed to be up at 6.30, which meant a 5.15 wake up call, yes 5.15. I’m not quite sure how I actually made it out of bed, got washed and dressed, put my cycling clothes and cycling leg on and made it to the deck on time, but I somehow did. The biggest difficulty I have as an above knee amputee is that I weight bear from the Ischail bone (bottom bone) and the socket which encases the bone interferes with the motion of cycling, throwing me off the saddle on each rotation, not a comfortable option for 400 kilometers.

My prosthetist Richard Nieveen and I devised a plan to cut the socket back and load the weight bearing in other areas, which would be more comfortable for cycling, but uncomfortable for walking.

So on the first morning, I had to negotiate my way, not only off one boat, but through a number of different sized and therefore different height boats. Nile Boats are similar to barges; they line up next to each other to dock, so to get to the shore you walk through the lobbies of each of the boats that have docked before you. Quite an interesting experience when each boat has it’s own mental detector at the entrance and exit, after a few daysI simply sidestepped the detectors and went on my way.

Day 1 – Bad Vibrations
The first day’s cycling was mainly off road and, where there was road, it was covered in pot holes and rather large rocks to negotiate. The Pink Lady would have shivered, curled up in a ball and refused to move had it been organic. We started on the first leg of a 115km day which was a lovely ride apart from a small incident involving a car, Cathy, myself and a donkey cart. Fortunately, I was next to the donkey cart and I held on to steady myself and managed to stay upright on the bike. A promising start I felt.

About half way through the second leg I wasn’t so lucky.  We reached a road which had more pot holes than a lawn at a moles picnic. Cathy and Mike were riding in front of me on an uphill stretch, when Cathy stopped suddenly to take a photograph, Mike pulled across my path to join Cathy which left me no option then to go head first into a pot hole the size of a swimming pool, shame it wasn’t full of water to cushion the blow.

I knew before I hit it that I was coming off because my road bike has a rigid frame and my artificial foot is attached to the pedal with SPD clips, so I can’t unclip my foot to get out of danger. A small inconvenience unless you are crashing head first into a pot hole the size of a pool.

Mike said he saw it in slow motion, but couldn’t get to me on time. I landed on the elbow, which has a mental pin in the humorous shaftwhich was a tad painful to say the least, however I was more concerned with my beautiful new bike and my immediate reaction was to check her for scratches. It wasn’t until Doc pointed out that I was bleeding quite heavily from a puncture wound in my arm. I noticed I had a bruise, which looked more like a plum, from an internal bleed. It actually looked a lot worse than it was and once Doc had patched me up with a bit of TLC and given me some pain killers I was ready to go.

Doc suggested that I take a rest but I knew that if I didn’t get straight back on I might not get back on at all and I had done a lot of training and come along way to complete this challenge.I jumped on a mountain bike and was on my way again, or so I thought. The saddle on the mountain bike was too low for me, so for a few miles I cycled with my bottom being thrown in the air with every rotation.I jumped in the van while Adrian from Classic Tours fixed the saddle height and I was on my way again.I worried that I was holding the group up, but them seemed pleased that I had continued and didn’t seem to mind at all.

The next section on a mountain bike with suspension was much easier.Doc stayed close by which helped boost my confidence. We stopped for lunch along the bank of the river Nile in a make shift tent, with lots of beautifully colored rugs. It was a well earned rest and the food was excellent.

I was warned that the first section after lunch would be difficult because it was a road which had been dug up and not resurfaced and that I might struggle; this only spurred me on. I wasn’t quite prepared for how difficult it would be and the distance it would cover; approximately 8 kilometers of strugglingto cycling across gravel and pebbles, some as big as those on Brighton Beach. After about 5 kilometers of pounding my wrists and bottom couldn’t take anymore and I conceded defeat and jumped in the van. To my relief I wasn’t the only person who had found the section too difficult as Cathy and Mike jumped in the Van with Tony and I to enjoy the scenery. I was disappointed that I had missed about 12 kilometers of the days ride, but we got back on the bikes and cycled the next section.The days cycling was 120 kilometers of which I completed around 90 kilometers, so I wasn’t too disappointed.

Day 2 – Aswan to Kom Ombo
Day two was on a much smoother surface, so is as back on the Pink lady. It made such a difference being back on my bike and I had a really enjoyabl morning ride. We spent the morning cycling out of the city of Aswan through traffic which was a bit hair raising to the two dams, the Low Dam and the High Dam.

This involved cycling up a couple of hill sections, but I enjoyed the challenge. Fortunately or unfortunately my bike is exceedingly quick on the descent, which I find a little scary, so I spent the declines holding on for dear life. When we arrived the group went on a tour of the Low Dam with a guide, unfortunately I had to decline because my cycling leg is not made for walking and can be quite uncomfortable. I took the opportunity to bask in the sun and watch the world go by. We then made our way to the High Damn for a photo
opportunity.

Road to Kom Ombo
After a well earned rest we were back on our way. We arrived back in the town during lunch time traffic, which can only be described as hectic.On the way back up one of the hills a local taxi driver clipped Nimesh’s elbow, fortunately he wasn’t badly hurt. We decided to bunch up for the last section of the cycle back through the town to avoid any further incidents. Mike and I were somewhat of a novelty to the locals with our hi-tech limbs. People would shout hello as we cycled past, see my leg and either look surprised or excited and cheer us on. I was amazed at the positive attitude towards disability displayed by the locals. There were both supportive and helpful.

We cycled back to the boat for lunch and some R & R.

In the afternoon we headed north cycling through small villages. The local children were fantastic, shouting excitedly and running alongside the bikes waving their arms in the air, shouting “hello” “hello” “money” “pen”. Some of the adults were a bit more suspicious with the odd stone being thrown. One or two people were hit on the bottom with sticks (sugar cane poles). Chris was cut on the leg by a stone which looked more like a small rock! A minute pebble hit me on the head but I hardly felt it. During the afternoon the wind picked up making the cycling a lot more difficult.It felt like I was peddling up hill for the most of the afternoon.

In the evening we celebrated the half way mark with a fancy dress party and a barbeque on the deck of the Nile Queen. Nimesh came up with the idea of Cathy and I attending the party as Belly Dancers. We snuck off the boat on a secret mission to find some costumes. We found a local shop and bartered for our wears, but definitely paid too much and left with things we didn’t need.

The party was great fun with everyone dressing up including the guides! The only downside was that the alcohol was London prices, as the Egyptians only really serve alcohol to the tourists.

Day 3 – Kom Ombo to Esna
On day three we cycled 120 kilometers. This was the toughest day, with much of the cycling against a strong headwind as we headed northbound along the east bank of the river Nile .

I had to take a couple of rest breaks along the route due to some sores on my stump. I was amazed and delighted that I had reached this far before I started to feel the effects of the socket rubbing against the skin. I would like to thank Assos for their superb chamois cream for getting me this far, not to mention my prosthetist Richard.

It was actually nice having a couple of rest breaks because it gave me the opportunity to take in the scenery, which is breathtaking, with the exception of a few dead carcasses. The last 20 kilometers of the leg was lined by tropical fruit frees and smelled wonderful.

We finished the day cycling in the dark, Fortunately I had my waterproof/windproof jacket with me, as the temperature drops very quickly when the sun sets. Due to the headwind each leg of the day had taken us approximately an hour longer than the previous equivalent legs.

For the last leg of the day we cycled through the town in the dark. We all bunched together between the support vehicles, which provided light, protection from traffic and a bit of security. Although cycling in the dark was a little more dangerous, it was an incredibly atmospheric and romantic way to finish the days cycling. We crossed a cobbled river bridge which could have been in Venice . The bridge was lit up and the locals were milling around cobbled streets going about their business. The whole area was buzzing with life.

Day four—The Valley of the Kings
We started with a scenic ride through the countryside. Today was a shorter day of 80 kilometers. I was conscious the whole day that I wanted to be fit enough to complete the ride into the Valley of the Kings , so I sat out for leg two and took some excellent photo’s of the other riders. I made the right decision because leg three was a full 21 kilometers before we even started the ascent into the Valley of the Kings .

I lost my cycling gloves at the rest stop and road back to find them. By the time I set off again I had lost the group and I rode the whole leg with Doc, We had a lovely ride and we did eventually catch up with the group which I was delighted about. I think I enjoyed this leg the most out of the whole trip, partly because you get stronger as the days go on, partly because we were near the end so I didn’t need to worry about keeping energy reserves so I just cycled at my own pace so I could watch the world go by and just enjoy the ride.

We stopped for lunch at the start of the Valley of the Kings by the Colossi of Memon. It was lucky that I had some energy left because the 7 kilometer ride into the Valley of the Kings was hard work. The entire leg was uphill, but what made it really difficult was the illusion created by the valley that you were cycling on the flat. In some places it even looked like we were on a descent, but when you stopped pedaling the bike would stop. We are cycling into the mid day sun, which also took it’s toll, as the heat was overbearing and there was no breeze. Tony and I had to stop a couple of times while I had a drink of water and caught my breath. The scenery was incredible and I had to pinch myself to make sure that I was really there.

Cycling into the Valley of the Kings 
Although this section was hard I enjoyed it the most and felt a sense of achievement as I turned the last corner and saw the coaches park full of tourist busses. It was a great feeling knowing that we had cycled to this incredible place while other people had come on the bus. We had time to look around the tombs before cycling to the finish line. I just couldn’t miss out on an opportunity to see the tombs so I wobbled up to the first tomb. It was just incredible, the tomb was over 3,000 years old and we could still see remnants of the vivid colours from the original wall decorations. It felt like stepping back in time.

We descended the Valley of the Kings as our final decent of the challenge. It felt like we were in a famous five novel and had just solved the mystery and decided to descend the hill with our legs in the air. If I could have swung my legs in the air for the whole decent I would have.We passed through a small village to reach the finish line, which I crossed a couple of times because I didn’t want it to be over.

We enjoyed some champagne, took photo’s and packed up the bikes. We then embarked on a special boat trip across the Nile back to the Nile Queen, with cold beers waiting on board for us, thanks to Osmond the Egyptian tour leader. My bike had pride of place on the roof of the boat.

In the evening we visited the Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple . The temple was awesome; there was something mystical about the place. You left with the feeling that the Ancient Egyptians knew something that we don’t or that something valuable had been lost along the way about spirituality and architecture. It was a humbling experience.The sound and light show itself may have been good, but we were all too tired to concentrate with some members of the group falling asleep during the show.